Maine is home to a diverse and captivating array of woodpeckers, each contributing to the state’s rich tapestry of wildlife.
Eight distinct woodpecker species inhabit Maine’s woodlands, bringing unique characteristics and behaviours to the forefront of its ecosystems.
From the diminutive Downy Woodpecker to the impressive Pileated Woodpecker, these avian residents play vital roles in pest control, forest regeneration, and the overall health of Maine’s forests.
Join us to explore the eight woodpecker species thriving in Maine, delving into their distinctive features, habitats, and fascinating dynamics that make them essential contributors to the region’s natural beauty and ecological balance.
Discover the world of Maine’s woodpeckers, where nature’s rhythm is echoed by the drumming beats of these remarkable birds. Stay sharp.
8 Woodpeckers of Maine
Maine’s woodpecker population comprises diverse species uniquely adapted to the state’s varied landscapes.
From the agile Downy Woodpecker to the impressive Pileated Woodpecker, these birds contribute to the ecological balance, showcasing nature’s resilience in Maine’s woodlands.
1. Downy Woodpecker
- Scientific name: Picoides pubescens
- Category: Woodpecker
- Population: Abundant and widespread
- Life span: 4 to 7 years
- Size: 5.5 to 7.1 inches
- Weight: 0.7 to 1.0 ounces
- Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
The Downy Woodpecker is a common and adaptable bird found throughout Maine. Recognized by its black and white plumage, it is the smallest woodpecker in North America.
Its distinctive features include a red patch on the back of its head (males only) and a relatively short bill. Downy woodpeckers thrive in various habitats, including woodlands, parks, and suburban areas.
Downy woodpeckers are agile climbers, using their stiff tail feathers for support as they move vertically on tree trunks. They have a diverse diet, feeding on insects, spiders, and seeds.
Their drumming serves both for communication and to locate insects beneath the bark. Downy Woodpeckers join mixed-species foraging flocks during winter to enhance their chances of finding food.
They are cavity nesters, often utilizing dead trees or limbs. Their adaptability and ability to use human-altered environments contribute to their thriving population.
2. Pileated Woodpecker
- Scientific name: Dryocopus pileatus
- Category: Woodpecker
- Population: Stable
- Life span: Up to 12 years
- Size: 16 to 19 inches
- Weight: 8 to 12 ounces
- Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the largest woodpeckers in North America, characterized by its striking black and white plumage and prominent red crest.
With a long neck and powerful bill, it is an impressive bird often spotted in mature forests and wooded areas across Maine.
Pileated woodpeckers are known for their distinctive drumming, which resonates through the forest. They primarily feed on insects, especially carpenter ants, found in dead or decaying trees.
Pileated woodpeckers are territorial and prefer large territories with abundant dead wood for foraging and nesting.
They excavate large, rectangular cavities for nesting in trees. These woodpeckers are skilled fliers, easily navigating through wooded areas despite their size.
3. Red-headed Woodpecker
- Scientific name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- Category: Woodpecker
- Population: Declining
- Life span: Up to 9 years
- Size: 7.5 to 9.1 inches
- Weight: 2.0 to 3.4 ounces
- Status: Near Threatened (IUCN)
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a striking bird with a bold redhead, black and white body, and a flash of blue on its wings. Unfortunately, their population has declined due to habitat loss and competition with other woodpecker species.
Red-headed woodpeckers are versatile foragers, consuming insects, fruits, and seeds. They are known for their acrobatic flight and ability to catch insects mid-air.
Unlike other woodpeckers, they catch flying insects and store food in crevices or tree bark. They are also skilled at caching surplus food.
Red-headed woodpeckers are cavity nesters, often choosing dead trees for their nesting sites. Conservation efforts are crucial to preserve their habitats, as they face threats from habitat fragmentation and loss.
4. Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Scientific name: Melanerpes carolinus
- Category: Woodpecker
- Population: Stable
- Life span: 9 to 13 years
- Size: 9.1 to 10.6 inches
- Weight: 2.0 to 3.2 ounces
- Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Despite its name, the Red-bellied Woodpecker’s belly is only faintly red, while its head displays vibrant red colouring. This woodpecker is commonly found in woodlands, suburban areas, and parks throughout Maine.
Red-bellied woodpeckers have a varied diet, including insects, fruits, and seeds. They are adept at catching insects on the wing and using their long, barbed tongue to extract insects from crevices.
These woodpeckers are known for their distinctive “churr” calls and drumming sounds during courtship and territorial displays. They often nest in tree cavities, and their adaptability to human-altered landscapes contributes to their stable population.
5. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Scientific name: Sphyrapicus varius
- Category: Woodpecker
- Population: Stable
- Life span: 4 to 8 years
- Size: 7.1 to 8.7 inches
- Weight: 1.5 to 2.3 ounces
- Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is easily identified by its black and white plumage, red crown, and yellowish wash on its belly.
This migratory woodpecker is known for its unique feeding behaviour, creating shallow sap wells on trees and feeding on the sap and insects attracted to it.
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers feed on the sap of various tree species, creating organized rows of sap wells. They also consume insects and tree bark. These woodpeckers are commonly found in deciduous and mixed forests, especially during migration.
They may be seen drilling holes in trees, creating a distinctive pattern that benefits other bird species, such as hummingbirds, who feed on the sap wells after the sapsuckers move on.
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers often return to the same breeding and feeding territories year after year.
6. Northern Flicker
- Scientific name: Colaptes auratus
- Category: Woodpecker
- Population: Stable
- Life span: Up to 9 years
- Size: 11 to 14 inches
- Weight: 3 to 5 ounces
- Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
The Northern Flicker is a large woodpecker with a distinctive appearance, featuring a tan or brown body, black bars on its back, and a prominent black crescent on its chest.
The undersides of their wings and tail feathers are bright yellow, visible in flight. Northern flickers have a varied diet consisting of insects, fruits, and seeds. Unlike other woodpeckers, they often forage on the ground for ants and beetles.
Their unique feeding behaviour, combined with their ground-nesting habits, sets them apart from other woodpecker species.
Northern flickers are known for their drumming sounds, used for communication and territorial purposes. They are adaptable birds, thriving in various habitats, including open woodlands, suburban areas, and grasslands.
7. Black-backed Woodpecker
- Scientific name: Picoides arcticus
- Category: Woodpecker
- Population: Stable
- Life span: 6 to 8 years
- Size: 8.7 to 9.8 inches
- Weight: 2.3 to 3.4 ounces
- Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
The Black-backed Woodpecker is easily identified by its black upperparts, white underparts, and distinctive yellow cap.
This woodpecker is well-adapted to coniferous forests and is found in boreal and subalpine regions, including parts of Maine. Black-backed woodpeckers specialize in foraging for insects beneath the bark of dead or dying trees.
They are particularly associated with recently burned or insect-infested forests, where their feeding habits contribute to forest regeneration.
Their presence often depends on the availability of such habitats, and they may move to new areas following disturbances like wildfires. Black-backed woodpeckers are cavity nesters, utilizing trees with soft wood for nesting sites.
Due to their association with specific ecological conditions, conservation efforts may be important to maintain suitable habitats for this species.
8. American Three-toed Woodpecker
- Scientific name: Picoides dorsalis
- Category: Woodpecker
- Population: Stable
- Life span: 5 to 6 years
- Size: 8.3 to 9.1 inches
- Weight: 1.8 to 3.0 ounces
- Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
The American Three-toed Woodpecker is characterized by its black and white plumage and a distinctive black cap. Unlike most woodpeckers, it has only three toes, a feature that sets it apart.
American three-toed woodpeckers are well-adapted to coniferous forests and are often found in areas with spruce and fir trees. They have specialized foraging behaviour, often scaling the trunks of trees to extract insects and larvae from beneath the bark.
Their feeding habits include targeting trees infested with bark beetles, contributing to forest health. Like the Black-backed Woodpeckers, they are associated with post-fire habitats and may move to new areas following disturbances.
Conservation efforts should consider the importance of maintaining diverse forest conditions to support the American Three-toed Woodpecker and its preferred habitats.
Wrapping Up
the woodpeckers of Maine embody the resilience and adaptability of nature within the state’s diverse ecosystems.
From the acrobatic foraging of the Downy Woodpecker to the habitat-specialized Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers, these avian residents play integral roles in maintaining ecological balance.
Whether in suburban areas or coniferous forests, the woodpeckers of Maine captivate with their behaviours, vibrant plumage, and unique contributions to the region’s biodiversity.
Recognizing the significance of these species fosters an appreciation for the interconnected web of life in Maine’s woodlands.